A brief outline of Japanese history (1)

During Pleistocene Epoch, Japanese Archipelago was connected to the Eurasian Continent. It is thought that many people flew in Japanese Archipelago from the continent. Japanese people in this era used chipped stone tool (Palaeolithic).

During Holocene Epoch, Japanese Archipelago became separated to the continent. Japanese people in this era used polished stone tool in addition to chipped stone tool (Neolithic).

[the Jomon period]

About from the 100th century B.C. to the third century B.C. is called the Jomon period. The origin of the Jomon is Jomon ware, straw-rope pattern pottery people in this era made. During the period, people lived mainly by hunting and gathering. And at least at the end of the period, people cultivated rice.

[the Yayoi period]

About from the third century B.C. to the third century A.D. is the Yayoi period. The origin of the Yayoi is Yayoi ware, red and thin pottery people in this era made. During the period many provinces existed and fought each other. The most famous province among Japanese people is Yamataikoku, described in Sanguozhi, Chinese classic. According to Sanguozhi, Yamataikoku ruled many provinces when a female shaman Himiko was a monarch.

[the Kofun period (the Tumulus period) ]

About from the third century to the seventh century is the Kofun period. Kofun means tumulus. Many tumuli were made around Japan. During the period, Yamato government had considerable power. Yamato government was based on Yamato region, central Japan.

[the Asuka period]

About from the end of the sixth century to 710 is the Asuka period. During the peiod Asuka was the capital of Japan.

From 593 to 622, Shotoku Taishi (Prince Shotoku) made several political reforms as regent of Empress Suiko. For instance, he developed a promotion system to rank officials into 12 levels, established the Seventeen-article Constitution (Japan's first written code of laws) and dispatched emissaries to Sui to establish democratic relations with Sui and have them learnt Sui's social systems and cultures.

In the early eighth century, the government developed a system for governing country by establishing the ritsuryo legal codes.

[Nara period]

From 710 to 784 is Nara period. In 710, the government relocated the capital to Nara. During this period the government completed the centralized system. And the government dispatched many students to Tang to have them learnt advanced foreign cultures. Buddhism developed, because the government protected Buddhism.

[Heian period]

From 794 to 1185 is Heian period. In 794, the government relocated the capital to Heiankyo, now known as Kyoto. In the period, the Emperor and noblemen took power. But at the end of the period, samurai gained power and influence over politics.

The government ceased to dispatch students to Tang in 894. As Japan disconnected from the continent, unique culture developed. Hiragana and Katakana began to be used in this period.

(To be continued)

A brief outline of Japanese history (1)
A brief outline of Japanese history (2)
A brief outline of Japanese history (3)
A brief outline of Japanese history (4)

About this blog, privacy policy

Welcome to my blog "Personal Japanology."

[About this blog]

The main aim of this blog is to provide information on Japan. It's a personal blog, so I don't have detailed plans.

I'm sorry I don' allow you to comment this blog. My email address is smjournal77@yahoo.co.jp

[About me]

My name is Hiroshi Tomishige. I'm a native Japanese male. I've lived in Japan since I was born. I spend all day managing my websites. Now I'm unemployed. :((

I'm not a specialist in Japanology. I was educated in Economics at a Japanese university.

I study English every day to read and write correctly. One purpose of writing this blog is to improve my English writing skills.

[Privacy Policy]

Personal Japanology uses cookies and web beacons to collect data. The use of cookies and web beacons is an industry standard.

A Cookie is a small piece of information that web sites send to your computers temporarily and later retrieve. You can configure your web browser to reject Cookies. A web beacon is a small graphic image on a web page that tracks user's behavior.

PJ use use Cookies and web beacons in the course of website tracking. PJ track information such as your remote host, country/language, HTTP user agent, HTTP Referer, display resolution, etc.

[Related websites]

Selective Mutism - My Memories
http://selectivemutism-mm.blogspot.com/
(New window open)

Hikikomori - Social withdrawal in Japan
http://nhjournal37.blogspot.com/
(New window open)